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The Story of the Great Unbuilt WIZARD OF OZ Theme Park, as told by the Park’s Creator; Gary Goddard – Part 1

THE GATEWAY TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF OZ was envisioned as an Emerald City-inspired transition from the real world to the park. Taking the Art Nouveau/Art Deco styling of the Emerald City as presented in the MGM Motion Picture, we create a series of transitional “arches” that provided both ticketing and entry. At the center of it all was a tribute to the beloved characters known throughout the world, not only setting the tone for the adventure ahead, but providing guests with an iconic image for their first ‘photo op’ of the day.

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF OZ

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF OZ was a dream project. When starting out in 1996, we knew we had a classic property that could rival Disney and Universal as a top theme park and destination resort if done correctly (or at least a close second or third.) But we were striving to make it the number one family destination theme park in the country when starting with out with our concept and planning development. In my opinion, the work we did for THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF OZ was every bit as good as anything ever done at Disney or Universal. We were creating new concepts that had never been seen before, all based around the heart and soul of the “The Wonderful World of Oz” as it was portrayed in the incredible MGM motion picture.

BIRDSEYE RENDERING OF THE PARK; This rendering (by Wes Cook) show the park as it was conceived with OLD KANSAS at the gateway leading to THE WORLD OF OZ and its many lands: Muchkinland (home of the Munchkins), Yellow Brick Country (home of The Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and The Cowardly Lion), The Haunted Forest (home of The Wicked Witch of the West), The Northern Kingdom (Home of Glinda, the Witch of the North), and at the center of it all The Emerald City itself.

To be clear, we had the rights to the motion picture, so we would be able to create “The Wonderful World of OZ” as multiple generations had come to know it through that remarkable movie. And we had the approval of the L. Frank Baum estate to incorporate other elements of Oz where it made sense. To do the project justice, we assembled the most incredible team of designers and artists, all of which had worked with me on a wide variety of Gary Goddard Productions (GGP) and Landmark Entertainment Group (LEG) projects.

Our conceptual design team was made up of the best people in the industry. Comprised of many in-house Landmark employees and others brought on to supplement the team. We started down two paths: show design and master planning, both moving in parallel directions, but with show design leading the way. We had an amazing show design team at Landmark back then, including Wes Cook, Luc Mayrand, Robert DeLapp, Richard Hoag, Anthony Esparza, and Ty Granaroli. To add to the visual team we brought in powerhouse talent that included William Stout and the Hilldebrandts, as well as Disney veterans Dan Gozee, Eddie Martinez and John Horny. In-house at LEG we had illustrators Greg Pro and Eric Heschong, (this was prior to either of them doing any work for Disney or Universal), and several other illustrators on board. On the master planning side, we had Chuck Canciller, Mac MacElrevey, and Greg Damron, of which Greg wound up leading the planning effort.

MASTER PLAN OF THE PARK: This final version of the original park plan was created by Greg Damron and is the result of many teams of show designers, architects, planners and producers. While the park allows guests to move in multiple ways through the park, “The Yellow Brick Road” provides guests a way to journey through the park in the same sequence that Dorothy followed on her fateful journey to the Emerald City and beyond to the Witch’s Castle as well.

Once we had our initial concept and master plan we presented it to a number of people. At one point, Harrison “Buzz” Price was brought into see the project and to render his professional opinion on whether it would make the grade or not. (Price is the legendary feasibility maven who originally helped to get Disneyland financed and then went on to form ERA, working on hundreds, if not thousands, of projects thereafter – he is considered one of the Deans of the Theme Park Industry.) Well, Price saw our concept presentation and told the financiers, “I have seen everything that has come down the pike since Disneyland and, without a doubt, this is the best project I have ever seen since. This is a winner.”

There’s no question that we had a winning team, a wining concept, and a remarkable project. In fact, at the end of the day, the only problem with it was that the development team had selected Kansas as the location for the project. On the surface, there were a lot of compelling reasons: a large military base that had closed which offered thousands of acres, centrally located in the middle of America, and of course, the entire Oz story started and ended in Kansas. But what no one on the development side really understood was the power of the Kansas City politicians. While a lot of Kansas residents and groups were for the project, there was a small group of backward thinking politicians who did everything they could to kill the project. Ultimately, the small-minded politicians “won” and were able to kill the project by having one vote more than those who were for it. Of course, there was a lot that went on between the start of the project and that fateful day. We’re here to take a look at the project itself and what might have been:

OLD KANSAS introduces guests to the world Dorothy knew before she journeyed “over the rainbow” to OZ. In our version the concept, different from Disneyland’s Main Street, was to create a pastel toned version of a period main street, foregoing bright colors for a more sepia-toned “realistic version” of early 1900’s Kansas street. We wanted to have the same kind of effect as the movie, keeping the bright colors for “The World of OZ” itself. (Design drawing by Chuck Canciller, illustration by Eric Heschon)

Old Kansas

This included our own sepia-toned version of a typical Kansas City Street of the era. Unlike Disneyland’s “Main Street” it would not be overly colorful (though it would have some color of course, but more pastel and “realistic” rather than the idealized version at the Disney parks.) In that sense, this would be much more like motion picture set of a classic retail street of the time. (For the same reason as in the movie, we wanted the bright colors of Oz to surprise you as you came around the end of the street.) At the end of the street, guests had an option of going one of three ways:To the left was Professor Marvel’s Traveling Carnival where a variety of family rides and pitch games could be found along with Professor Marvel’s Wagon, and his “Balloon Ride” that would take you to The Emerald City should you decide to board.

PROFESSOR MARVEL’S TRAVELING CARNIVAL was a unique feature of our “Old Kansas” area, providing guests with games of skill, themed iron rides, and simple mid-western food fare as well, all of this themed around Professor Marvel and his traveling wagon. Also, as one way to enter “OZ” guests could board Professor’s Marvels GREAT BALLOON RIDE and be carried by the winds to The Emerald City. (Illustration by Guy Deel)

To the right – down the road a piece – was The Gale Farmhouse featuring a “tour” of Dorothy Gale’s home. But if you take the tour, you’d probably wind up being caught up in a terrible twister and after you’re flown through the air, and see the infamous Wicked Witch transformation out the window, you’d finally land safely on the ground once more. Walking out the way you came in except, you’re in Munchkinland! The very place where Dorothy’s house dropped her ages ago.

THE GALE FARMHOUSE provided yet another way to get to OZ. The Gale Family had set up an “open house” for visitors to tour the home that Dorothy had imagined was carried away by a big Twister. During the “tour” a TWISTER approaches and guests are told “to find a seat” and to “strap in” and within moments the entire house is lifted into the air and carried on a journey through the storm tossed skies. When the storm leaves, guests exit to find themselves in Munchkinland. (Design drawing by Chuck Canciller, illustration by Greg Pro)

Or, if you would rather get right to Oz, you only have to walk straight ahead to the colorful Rainbow Bridge. Here you can walk “Over the Rainbow” to find yourself in Munchkinland, ready to begin your journey through Oz.

Once in The Wonderful World of OZ, while you can explore the Oz Territories at your own pace, in your own way, or you can also choose to “Follow the Yellow Brick Road”, just as Dorothy once did, and in so doing, your adventure will follow the unfolding series of events in much the same order of events that Dorothy experienced them.

MUNCHKINLAND was a faithful recreation of the Land in which Dorothy found herself, and from where she started her journey down The Yellow Brick Road. (Design Rendering by The Hildebrandts)

The park itself was a reflection of the World of Oz with a host of memorable areas from the movie, and with new places to discover and explore which were culled from the books. Over the next month we’ll journey into the park and discover its key attractions. Check back next week as we venture into Munchkinland and Yellow Brick Country!

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5 comments on “The Story of the Great Unbuilt WIZARD OF OZ Theme Park, as told by the Park’s Creator; Gary Goddard – Part 1”

I would try again at least. I know me and my family would travel hours to visit. I haven’t and won’t do the same for Disney or Universal. This is a brilliant idea with brilliant plans. Definitely a winner.

This was an excellent and highly creative project and I was following its movements in the 90’s and learned of it’s ending due to puritanical and ignorant politicians, and stupid comments by certain religious organizations. I guess the new OZ theme park concept has found a new methodology and is striving for New York State participation. The article is kind , considering the offenses than came down in Kansas.

This was an excellent and highly creative project and I was following its movements in the 90’s and learned of it’s ending due to puritanical and ignorant politicians, and stupid comments by certain religious organizations. I guess the new OZ theme park concept has found a new methodology and is striving for New York State participation. The article is kind , considering the offenses than came down in Kansas.